Rewa Burke
I decided to enrol in the Aquaculture and Marine Conservation Trades Academy course because I love being out on the water and enjoy diving. I thought it would be a great way to learn more about the ocean.
The course was a bit different from what I expected, but I still really enjoyed it. The best part was going out on the boats, learning what it takes to be a skipper, and making sure we secured the boat to the wharf. Another highlight for me was dissecting salmon, mussels, oysters, and kina. It helped us understand the biology of these animals and see all their internal parts up close.
At times, the book work and listening to speakers was challenging. But the tutors were kind and supportive, helping us get through the material and making sure we understood what was being taught. The course had a mix of tutors with different skills, which was great because we got to learn from people with specialist knowledge in different areas of aquaculture.
Learning about driving boats and maritime law will definitely be useful for my future, since I love being on the water. I do wish we had covered a bit more of that during the course. Overall, this course is awesome for students who enjoy seafood, being out on the water, and learning about marine life and survival skills.
I’m in Year 12 and will be returning to school to complete Year 13. I’m hoping to gain some work experience and maybe do a course on working at heights, as I’m keen to explore whether becoming a line mechanic is something I want to pursue after school.